Mary E. Rabanus

Rabanus (nee Schluttenhofer), Mary Elizabeth
Mary was born on March 7, 1934 the first child and only daughter to Francis and Mary Schluttenhofer. Her husband and best friend of 47 years, Gordon G. Rabanus, preceded her in death. She is survived by her 4 children, Amy Ulman, Teresa (Jeff) Eagle, Jeffrey (Susan) Rabanus, and Patricia (Mike) Griest as well as her 8 grandchildren: Erin and Megan Ulman, Taylor and Olivia Rabanus, Maria and Jack Eagle, Aiden and Caroline Griest. Mary is also survived by her brother, Robert Schluttenhofer. She is preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Mary Schluttenhofer as well as her brother, Francis.

Mary was raised in Fayetteville, Ohio. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class of Fayetteville High School in 1952 as well as graduating with her RN from Mercy School of Nursing in Hamilton, OH in 1955. She worked first in the hospital setting and met the love of her life at a wedding reception in Cincinnati. Mary and Gordon were married June 28, 1958 and moved to Lexington, KY where Gordon was finishing his engineering degree at UK. Mary worked at Square D as an industrial nurse at that time. After the couple moved to Dayton, OH where Gordon was employed at WPAFB, Mary worked as an office nurse for a leading dermatologist in town.

When first child, Amy, came along, Mary then took on the new and devoted career of full time mother that extended to Teri, Jeff and Patty. She became involved in her children’s lives serving as homeroom mother countless times, lead Camp Fire Girl groups for both Amy and Teri, was Cookie Mom for Patty’s Girl Scout group and also was the PTA treasurer for Oak Creek Elementary for many years.

In 1978, Mary decided to reenter her career as an RN and worked part time, second shift at then Bethany Lutheran Village as a floor nurse. She was promoted to 2nd shift charge nurse and also worked as both the employee health nurse and as the nurse who accompanied Dr. Perez on his visits to residents. She retired after 20 years with Bethany to devote more of her time to her husband and her grandchildren, all of whom she treasured.

Mary made friends in all circles of her life from her neighbors, the nurses she went to school with, and to those at Bethany. She and Gordon had friends in both Cincinnati and Dayton and it was very important to her that they all keep in touch and meet up whenever possible. She became the social director for all of these groups arranging luncheons and other get- togethers. It was very sad for her each time a beloved friend left their numbers.

Mom loved her gardens and was very proud of her many flower beds. She enjoyed making a full evening meal for the family, wrote a cook book that each child now has and loved playing cards – especially Euchre, Canasta, Hearts, and in later years, Skip-bo. She was active in Kettering Rec Center Senior Citizens and participated in many of the groups there as well as taking multiple trips with new friends.

When she made the decision to move to 10 Wilmington Place, Mary became active in Resident Council, started the Vial of Life Program, and made sure that every resident in the building had a birthday card on their birthday whether she knew them or not.

Mary will have a small funeral Mass and Burial with immediate family at this time. A celebration of life memorial will be done later this year. Details to be forthcoming.
In lieu flowers, donations can be made in Mary's memory to Hospice of Dayton.